Compton Garden Flowers

09/03/2025

Delphinium Planting Update

The delphiniums are now large enough to plant out, spaced 50 cm apart to allow for their substantial growth.

While rabbits tend to avoid them due to their toxicity, slugs are a different story. To get ahead of the problem, nematodes were watered in a couple of weeks ago, and the plants are now surrounded by a protective layer of strulch to help deter slug activity.

Looking forward to seeing these impressive plants thrive in the months ahead.

25/02/2025

Delphinium Dilemmas!

For whatever reason, I just cannot crack growing delphiniums from seed. Sometimes I get good germination, but the seedlings never make it to the field. Other times? Nothing at all! No rhyme or reason.

Last autumn, I decided enough was enough and went on the hunt for plug plants. Enter Suzie — I ordered several colours, and the plugs arrived looking amazing! Given my track record, I was hesitant to plant them straight into the field, so I overwintered them in the greenhouse instead. And just look at them now—strong, healthy plants, and ready to go!

I’ll be planting them out in the next couple of weeks and smothering them with Strulch—because I refuse to let slugs defeat me at this stage!

What’s your one seed nemesis? Let me know in the comments!

17/02/2025

Sweet Pea Progress!

You may remember my post from just 10 days ago, when these sweet peas were started off on the kitchen windowsill. Now, the strongest ones have been potted up—three per deep 9cm pot—and moved to the tunnel for their next stage of growth.

The biggest challenge now? Hungry mice! Sweet pea seedlings are a particular delicacy for them, so they’re safely placed out of reach on shelving created in the struts - framework of the tunnel

By late March/early April, they’ll be ready to go outside, bringing gorgeous flowers from mid-June! Can’t wait!

12/02/2025

“This stunning p***y willow is called ‘Mount A*o,’ and its rich, dark red catkins are truly a sight to behold! Some say the name ‘catkin’ comes from the Dutch word katteken, meaning ‘kitten,’ because these soft, furry buds resemble tiny cat paws. If we’re lucky, Mount A*o reaches peak condition just in time for Valentine’s Day—and this year, it has done exactly that. ***ywillow

04/02/2025

It’s too early to sow most seeds, but sweet peas are the exception!

We like to start ours off on the kitchen windowsill, allowing them to pre-sprout before potting into deep pots. This method helps us stay laser-focused on the strongest seeds—only those that successfully germinate make it into pots.

So we get the most amazing Sweetpeas from early summer

28/01/2025

16/01/2025

This picture may not look very exciting but for me it is a celebration of the season - it’s so good to be back out in the field and getting ready for summer!!

Today I was planting out autumn sown larkspur, Orlaya and sweetpeas (in the tunnel). This image also shows my favourite and most useful piece of equipment .

04/12/2024

Thank you for a fabulous workshop. Without which I don’t think our front door would be dressed for the festivity season !!

28/11/2024

And so it begins!!

10/11/2024

Throughout this year we have experienced one of the strangest seasons where Mother Nature has been a bit topsy turvy and now here we are marching towards mid November and still the dahlias are pumping out blooms!

Reduced light levels mean that they aren’t good enough for buckets. In season every flower is cut for buckets or deadheaded which means we don’t usually see them flowering en masse, but because we are not cutting, we are enjoying the colours which are magnificent!! Sure to have a heavy frost soon and then they will be gone and put to bed for the winter ! For now we will enjoy, Bob took this photo as the sun went down today around 5pm.

09/10/2024

We are coming to an end of the season but there is still a bit of colour coming out of the field !

A few of the buckets leaving here today heading to for for their fabulous students to use tomorrow, when it’s all about wedding flowers.

02/10/2024

Autumn colours

The happy couple wanted masses of seasonal colour to adorn their guests tables. Was such a pleasure to provide these beauties for V&D’s weekend wedding.